Private Project

The Seven Summer Muses

A group of seven college friends, find themselves involved in a horrific ritual when they have a party in the restaurant where they work.
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'A Different Kind of Horror Script' – As a writer and avid movie watcher, I really like most genres of movies. However; I tend to gravitate toward character driven films.
I've been a fan of horror since at a ripe young age, I saw John Carpenter's- 'Halloween'. Since then, every other one I've watched, was being analyzed whether I knew it or not.
I never wanted to write a 'Horror' screenplay, unless I could write something that was 'Different' & 'New'. So I took the risk of attempting just that.

I'd like to invite you to read this horror 'Story', without relying on 'The Idea' of 'Needing' every 'Horror' Movie 'Trope' fulfilled. The Characters in this Screenplay, are based upon real average college girls. They don't live fantastical lives, they are normal people. Thus, I've tried to keep the story as real as possible.
Things happen like they would in reality, and the reactions to events are handled as human reactions. And not overly exaggerated.
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'Nominated for Best Screenplay’ – Independent Talents International Film Festival December 2018.

'The Seven Summer Muses' is a character driven horror/thriller.

The story revolves around a group of seven similar, yet different girls whom find themselves in life altering events during the week of the Fourth of July.

Tabytha, Jamie, Megan, Nicole and Kassity work at a local restaurant in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Makenzie and Shannon round out this group of audacious and free spirited friends.

After the events of a house party, they set their sites on the closed restaurant for a Fourth of July party.

In no time, the past creeps in and changes their lives forever when a smart and determined dark figure pledges homage to his past.

Locked inside the building he stalks and terrorizes them, as he performs an ancient ritual.

Innocence disappears as the girls watch their friends fall at a rapid pace.

Driven by character, 'Muses' looks to find the root of emotion that leads man to evil.

Comparatively; it explores the dynamic range of emotion and difference, which will help them survive.
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Author Note:

'The Seven Summer Muses' is a feature length female ensemble 'thriller/slasher'
screenplay.

Written with a focus on Character, 'Muses' has something that has been lacking in many horror films for years... Depth.

This story would sit in well, with most modern slashers, similar to what Blumhouse is currently producing .

With it's realistic depiction of college life, 'Muses' seems similar to 'Spring Breakers' at first; while then morphing into something more like 'Halloween'.

Following a group of seven female friends, none of the seven are cut short on screen-time. In addition; no one 'Final Girl', is gift wrapped for the Audience.

'Muses' subtly delivers an 'undercurrent' of twisted devotion, to the world's longest running addiction. Yet, never loses focus.

Because of it's graphic violence and use of drugs, 'The Seven Summer Muses' would garnish a hard 'R' rating.

(c) 2019 - written by Jim Catizone
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Two short reviews:

‘An empty restaurant, a group of young people eager to party, seven muses, some secrets and seven seals....what could go wrong?

It turns out quite a lot, a night of partying and friendship turns quickly into a horrible evening of murder as our characters are stalked by a dark specter with secrets of their own. One by one our heroes face off with their own demons.

What happens by morning is even more terrifying as Mr. C provides a twist of our tails at the conclusion that will take his readers by surprise and whet our appetites for an ongoing story arc.

For a first effort into the horror genre, i found it to be a solid effort, as is does not fall into the typical "slasher" genre but digs a little deeper into revenge, the price of friendship and the cost of keeping secrets.’

'Everybody expects to die, in some far-distant, unknowable circumstance and time. No one, especially seven carefree, college-age young women, expect to die now, tonight. Tonight, at a party, in a closed restaurant, many of them will meet their fate. Someone evil is shadowing them, is locked in with them. They never came here, expecting to die, but many of them will. Read Seven Summer Muses. Be afraid.'

Also available on Amazon in paperback and electronic forms.

(c) 2019 - by Jim Catizone

  • JIm Catizone
    Writer
    The Lottery Server, Song For America, The Italian Restaurant, Scare the Girls (Adapted), Rev On The Red Line
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Number of Pages:
    111
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Independent Talents International Film Festival
    USA
    December 31, 2018
    Official Selection
  • All Genre Screenplay Contest
    Los Angeles, CA
    February 15, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Horror in the Heat
    Sumrall, Mississippi
    June 30, 2019
    Semi-Finalist
  • Indie Visions Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    February 15, 2019
    Finalist
  • Southeast Regional Film Festival
    Jacksonville, FL
    April 4, 2020
    Finalist
  • New York Cinematography AWARDS (NYCA)
    NEW YORK, USA
    May 29, 2020
    Semi-Finalist
  • Horror Bowl Movie Awards
    Punjab, India
    June 6, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Thinking Hat Fiction Contest
    India
    June 27, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Los Angeles Cinematography AWARDS (LACA)
    Los Angeles, CA
    September 10, 2020
    Semi-Finalist
Writer Biography - JIm Catizone

I grew up in a small Pennsylvania town. I am one of six children born into a large Italian family. The fun fact about my youth is that I grew up in Centralia, PA. A town that is famous for a mine fire that burned under the town for almost 50 years.

As I grew up, most of my work experience was restaurant, retail and sales oriented. My family were always involved in the restaurant business and I continue to work in that industry today.

Between 2003-2005 I decided to attend college for Broadcast Communications and Journalism Communications. I obtained two Associates Degrees in both Majors. The local job scene for both of these degrees in the Scranton, PA area, was not lucrative. I continued to work in the service industry, due to the influx of good money which that business brings.

I've always had an interest in movies/film. I quickly learned that, that said influence was steering me toward wanting to write. I started to write a screenplay based upon the restaurant industry. My focus was to try to depict what it was really like to work as a server in the industry. This led to my first original and feature length screenplay.. 'The Italian Restaurant'. I spent many years developing and writing 'The Italian Restaurant'. Over the past few years, I've taken that script through many changes.

Although, I still work full time in the service industry, my hobby/passion is writing. Since the beginning, I've now written six original feature screenplays and adapted one.

I'm developing my IMDB page to help get myself out there. In an industry that is saturated with thousands of screenwriters, we need all the help and exposure that we can get.

I currently live in the Scranton, Pennsylvania area. I work full time for a Philadelphia based company called Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar. I really enjoy my job and really believe in my company. However; I secretly look forward to the day when writing could be a full time gig for me.

My name is James Catizone you can reach me at ksoze43@gmail.com

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Writer Statement


'A Different Kind of Horror Script' – As a writer and avid movie watcher, I really like most genres of movies. However; I tend to gravitate toward character driven films.
I've been a fan of horror since at a ripe young age, I saw John Carpenter's- 'Halloween'. Since then, every other one I've watched, was being analyzed whether I knew it or not.
I never wanted to write a 'Horror' screenplay, unless I could write something that was 'Different' & 'New'. So I took the risk of attempting just that.

I'd like to invite you to read this horror 'Story', without relying on 'The Idea' of 'Needing' every 'Horror' Movie 'Trope' fulfilled. The Characters in this Screenplay, are based upon real average college girls. They don't live fantastical lives, they are normal people. Thus, I've tried to keep the story as real as possible.
Things happen like they would in reality, and the reactions to events are handled as human reactions. And not overly exaggerated.